Ill. county settles lawsuit by 3 former inmates

BELLEVILLE — A southwestern Illinois sheriff says his county has agreed to pay $3,500 to three former inmates to settle their federal lawsuit over living conditions at the jail.

St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson tells the Belleville News-Democrat the payouts to Floyd Robinson, Timothy Headrick and Myron Barber come without the county admitting any wrongdoing alleged in the 2011 lawsuit.

The ex-inmates alleged unacceptable jail conditions, including crowding, inmates forced to sleep on the floor, the foul odor of human waste, insects, mice, small amounts of food per serving and inadequate access to a law library.

The newspaper reported earlier this week that the county also agreed to pay up to $2,000 to each of three former jail inmates who sued over alleged guard abuse.